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How First-Generation Students Engage with Comprehensive Support: Lessons from an Evaluation of the Kessler Scholars Program

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Title: How First-Generation Students Engage with Comprehensive Support: Lessons from an Evaluation of the Kessler Scholars Program
Language: English
Authors: Ifeatu Oliobi, Jennifer May-Trifiletti, Ini-Abasi Umosen, Caroline Doglio, Ithaka S+R
Source: ITHAKA S+R. 2026.
Availability: ITHAKA S+R. Available from: ITHAKA. One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Tel: 212-500-2355; e-mail: ithakasr@ithaka.org; Web site: https://sr.ithaka.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 45
Publication Date: 2026
Sponsoring Agency: Bloomberg Philanthropies
Judy and Fred Wilpon Family Foundation
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: First Generation College Students, Low Income Students, Scholarships, College Programs, Program Evaluation, Program Attitudes, Student Personnel Services, Academic Support Services, Student Participation
DOI: 10.18665/sr.324961
Abstract: The Kessler Scholars Program is a comprehensive, cohort-based program that provides financial support, as well as academic, professional, and personal guidance to transform the college experience for first-generation limited-income college students. The Kessler Scholars Collaborative now supports Kessler Scholars Programs across 16 institutions, serving over 1,000 Kessler Scholars annually. The Collaborative aims for Kessler Scholars to exceed national persistence and graduation rates for first-generation students, to develop a strong sense of belonging and mattering at their institution, and to engage in high-impact practices shown to promote success outcomes. Ithaka S+R has led the external evaluation of the Kessler Scholars Program since 2022, aiming to inform continuous program improvement and contribute to a broader understanding of what works in supporting first-generation student success. This brief leverages newly available data on students' program participation, year-to-year persistence, and completion rates to answer three key research questions: (1) To what extent are Kessler Scholars across the Collaborative's partner institutions engaging in the core program activities expected by the Collaborative?; (2) How do Kessler scholars and program staff perceive the value of core program activities?; and (3) To what extent is the Collaborative making progress toward its collective impact goals of closing persistence and graduation gaps, improving the student experience, and fostering a sense of community among scholars? To answer these questions, the authors analyze data from a variety of sources, including surveys of Kessler Scholars and campus program teams, program participation data provided by partner institutions, administrative data from institutional research offices at partner campuses, participant observation of Collaborative meetings and events, and interviews with Collaborative leadership.
Abstractor: ERIC
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED681083
Database: ERIC
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  Data: How First-Generation Students Engage with Comprehensive Support: Lessons from an Evaluation of the Kessler Scholars Program
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ifeatu+Oliobi%22">Ifeatu Oliobi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jennifer+May-Trifiletti%22">Jennifer May-Trifiletti</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ini-Abasi+Umosen%22">Ini-Abasi Umosen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Caroline+Doglio%22">Caroline Doglio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ithaka+S%2BR%22">Ithaka S+R</searchLink>
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  Data: ITHAKA S+R. Available from: ITHAKA. One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway 5th Floor, New York, NY 10006. Tel: 212-500-2355; e-mail: ithakasr@ithaka.org; Web site: https://sr.ithaka.org
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  Data: The Kessler Scholars Program is a comprehensive, cohort-based program that provides financial support, as well as academic, professional, and personal guidance to transform the college experience for first-generation limited-income college students. The Kessler Scholars Collaborative now supports Kessler Scholars Programs across 16 institutions, serving over 1,000 Kessler Scholars annually. The Collaborative aims for Kessler Scholars to exceed national persistence and graduation rates for first-generation students, to develop a strong sense of belonging and mattering at their institution, and to engage in high-impact practices shown to promote success outcomes. Ithaka S+R has led the external evaluation of the Kessler Scholars Program since 2022, aiming to inform continuous program improvement and contribute to a broader understanding of what works in supporting first-generation student success. This brief leverages newly available data on students' program participation, year-to-year persistence, and completion rates to answer three key research questions: (1) To what extent are Kessler Scholars across the Collaborative's partner institutions engaging in the core program activities expected by the Collaborative?; (2) How do Kessler scholars and program staff perceive the value of core program activities?; and (3) To what extent is the Collaborative making progress toward its collective impact goals of closing persistence and graduation gaps, improving the student experience, and fostering a sense of community among scholars? To answer these questions, the authors analyze data from a variety of sources, including surveys of Kessler Scholars and campus program teams, program participation data provided by partner institutions, administrative data from institutional research offices at partner campuses, participant observation of Collaborative meetings and events, and interviews with Collaborative leadership.
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